Matches

Match Report By Martin Candler

On a day that plans for the new stadium for the Blues were unveiled, the old ground provided a match of six goals and much entertainment for the 1204 crowd, swelled by a successful “Kids for a Quid” club initiative. Halifax battled manfully to peg Grays back three times to keep their League survival hopes alive, despite playing their fourth game in eight days.

In conditions that made flowing football difficult, the first half was scrappy with both sides guilty of sloppy passing but after the fast-improving Jamie Taylor scored in the 40th minute the game opened up. Scoring chances were at a premium in the first half though, Tom Kearney‘s shot going just wide in the 9th minute and Barry Cogan‘s effort whistling past Shaymen keeper Adam Leizdins‘ post in the 31st minute. But the robust Halifax defence caught the Grays strikers offside on several occasions which made the game a little stop-start. Halifax had a good shout for a penalty in the 16th minute when Matt Doughy released Darryn Stamp who rounded Nicky Eyre but was brought down by Jon Ashton. Referee Mr Barrrett waved away the protesting Halifax players, as he did,however, to the home side in the second half when Michael Standing was tripped in the penalty area.

The opening goal came from a penetrating run and cross by the tricky Cogan which Danny Kedwell headed across goal for Jamie Taylor to steal in on the blind side of the visitor‘s defence and head home. Halifax responded on the stroke of half-time when a weak parry from Eyre eventually fell to Daryl Taylor who blasted in the equaliser.

Just as they did at Burton last week, Grays came out in determined mood in the second half and in the 47th minute they were in front again. This time, Jamie Taylor ran on to a through ball, saw his first effort blocked but kept his composure to lob the keeper with his second attempt. However, Halifax would not lie down and three minutes later they were level. Seemingly rejuvenated by his goal, Daryl Taylor skipped through to find Simon Heslop whose cross was met at the near post by a glancing Gareth Davies header which flew over the head of the advancing Eyre.

Athough mistakes still abounded, particularly from the usually sound home defence, the match tempo increased as both sides went for a win. Grays rediscovered some of their better recent form and came close on number of occasions and in the 86th minute scored what they must have thought was the winner. A shove on Tom Kearney by sub Scott Taylor, not deemed a foul by the referee, saw the Grays player cooly beat Leizdins at his near post. Taylor then had cause for complaint himself when he seemed to be fouled in the 89th minute before, in the same passage of play, Tom Kearney was upended in the box by Jamie Stuart, Craig Mawson converting the subsequent penalty. An eventful game then with a draw just about the right result.

Grays Athletic: Eyre, Downer, Ashton, Stuart, Gross, O'Connor, McCafferty (Standing 53), Thurgood, Cogan, J.Taylor (S.Taylor 74), Kedwell (Goulding 63).
Subs Not Used: Whincup, Senghore.

Goalscorers: J.Taylor(40, 47), S.Taylor(86)

.Booked: Downer.

Attn: 1,204

Ref: W Barratt (Halesowen).

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